Title: Stay With Me Tonight
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Greg Sanders/Don Flack
Fandom: CSI: Vegas/CSI: NY
Rating: PG-13
Author's Note: Set pre-CSI: Vegas when Greg is still living in NYC.
Disclaimer: This is entirely a product of my imagination, and I make no profit from it. I do not own the lovely Greg Sanders or Don Flack, just borrowing them for a while. Please do not sue.

***

Greg pulled his cell phone out of his pocket with trembling hands, hoping that he didn't drop it. The last thing he needed was to be out here alone on the street after dark, with no way of getting in touch with Don -- or of dialing 911 if he had to.

He hadn't intended to work late tonight, but he hadn't had a choice. He didn't want to tell anyone he worked with that he thought he was being followed home every day; it sounded ridiculous, as though he was trying to make himself the center of attention.

That wasn't the case at all, but people wouldn't see that. They would just think that the crazy kid with the wild hair was being a drama queen; they wouldn't believe him if he told them that a cop had told him to be careful, that he was indeed being stalked.

It was ridiculous that he couldn't do anything to stop whoever was following him, Greg thought as he flipped the phone open and scrolled down to Don's number. He'd been told that the people watching him would have to make some kind of move before the police could step in.

What would they have to do? Rape him? Kill him? Would he have to be dead before the cops would try to stop these people from scaring the hell out of him? A hell of a lot of good a restraining order would do him if he was deceased, Greg thought with a snort.

"Greg? What's wrong?" Don's voice sounded so concerned on the other end of the line when he answered that Greg almost wanted to cry. He'd never heard anything that sounded so safe, so comforting. Don was there. He could talk to his boyfriend.

"Don? I --" He didn't want to tell his lover that he was out by himself after dark, when Don had warned him that it wasn't a good idea, but he had to. "I'm walking home. I had to work late, and I-I think somebody's following me again." His voice trembled on the last few words.

"Are you anywhere near some place that you can go in and wait for me?" Don asked. The concern in his tone had grown; Greg was sure that he would drop whatever he was doing -- if he could -- and be by his side as quickly as possible.

Greg glanced around, realizing that there was a small bookshop nearby -- one that he'd been in a few times. There was a coffee shop near the front; he could go in there, get a cup of coffee and wait for Don. He'd be safe there until his boyfriend got here.

"Yeah, there's a bookshop right across the street from me," he said, the words rushing out. "The Dusty Corner. Do you know where it is?" He almost held his breath, hoping that Don knew where the place was, before he realized that Don probably knew most places in the city.

"Yeah, I know where it is. Just a couple of blocks from your place." Don's voice was soft but firm, calming Greg more than he'd thought it would. "Just get in there and wait for me, okay, baby? I'll be there within half an hour at the most."

"Okay. I'll see you then." He reluctantly hung up the phone, looking up at the street light. It was green; he would have to wait until it was red and the lights said that he could cross the street along with the couple of other pedestrians who were on the sidewalk.

Neither of the other two people looked as though they would be someone who'd be interested in following him, but Greg still couldn't help looking at them cautiously -- and stepping away from them. He didn't want to take any chances, not with the way he'd been feeling lately.

He was relieved when the light changed and he could hurry across the street. Maybe it was stupid to feel this exposed just because he was walking home a little after dark, but there was a prickling on the back of his neck that told him he was definitely being watched.

Greg breathed a sigh of relief when he opened the door of the bookshop and stepped inside. There were a couple of people working, another two in the coffee shop, as well as several people browsing amongst the bookshelves. He would be safe here.

All he needed to do now was go to the coffee shop and get something to drink, then sit down and wait for Don. He made his way to the counter, leaning against it when he felt his knees start to shake. He hadn't expected to feel so weak -- or so scared.

He paid the barista and sat down, cupping his hands around the mug of cappuccino. He didn't want to look up at the window; he was afraid that he might see someone peering through, obviously keeping an eye on him. He didn't want to know if his fears were actually coming true.

Maybe Don could stay with him tonight; if his boyfriend was there beside him in bed, holding him through the night, then he'd be able to sleep. There wouldn't be yet another night when he stared out of the window, wondering if someone was out there watching him at that moment.

It took Greg a few minutes to realize that his hands were shaking; closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and tried to force himself to calm down. Nobody would follow him in here; there were too many people around. He wasn't going to be threatened or intimidated.

Why would anybody want to do that, anyway? Maybe he was making way too big a deal of this. But he had seen those flashes again when he'd left work, and now that he knew that they came from a camera, it seemed obvious that he was being followed.

Why? his mind screamed. He had no idea why anyone would hone in on him. He wasn't anyone particularly important in the crime lab; he was just an intern. Yes, he saw some of the important cases, but it wasn't as though he was at the forefront of them.

And no one would want to kidnap him, for heaven's sake. He'd gone out of his way not to make it known that his family was wealthy; their name wouldn't ring any bells, anyway. It wasn't as though they were filthy rich; just well-off enough to be very comfortable.

If anybody wanted to kidnap him and hold him for ransom, they'd already had more than enough chances to do it. How many nights had he gone stumbling home from some gay bar or nightclub, barely able to walk in a straight line because he was drunk?

It would have been easy enough for someone to grab him then. Why wait until now, when he was a lot more cautious about where we went and what he did? Not to mention the fact that he was dating a cop. It wasn't like kidnapping him would be easy to do.

Then again, nobody really knew that he was dating Don Flack. They had kept their relationship quiet; Greg hadn't told anyone at work who he was going out with, just that he'd met someone who he liked a lot. That was it. No one had questioned him about who he was seeing.

Greg's head jerked up as someone slid into the chair opposite him at the table; he'd been so lost in his thoughts that he'd almost forgotten where he was. Don reached across the table to take his hand, twining their fingers together as his gaze anxiously searched Greg's face.

"Did you see anybody following you, baby?" he said softly, his voice not carrying to the tables around them. There were only a few other people in the coffee shop, but they were all sitting a good distance away. Nobody could hear their words.

Greg shook his head, but he was unable to stop himself from glancing towards the window. "No, I didn't actually see anybody -- but I saw more of those camera flashes aimed at me when I left the building at work tonight," he murmured, suddenly breathless.

"You could feel them watching, couldn't you?" Don asked, his voice grim. "I don't know why anybody would be tailing you, Greg, but I'm going to make sure nobody gets to you. I promise you that. As long as I'm around, nobody's going to lay a finger on you."

Greg nodded, swallowing hard as his gaze met Don's. "Yeah, I could feel them watching me," he managed to whisper, feeling his throat tighten. "Don, I'm scared. I don't know why anybody would be after me. I haven't done anything."

"Shhh, babe, it's okay," Don said softly, giving Greg's fingers a reassuring squeeze. "Nobody's going to hurt you. I'm going to look after you, okay? Just don't go out at night again by yourself if you can help it. Next time you have to work late, take a cab home."

Why hadn't he done that tonight? Greg could have slapped himself for the sheer stupidity of walking home alone after dark when he could have called a cab at any time. "Will you stay with me tonight? he asked, hoping that Don would say yes.

"You know I will," Don told him, squeezing Greg's hand again. "I've still got a few hours on my shift, but I'll be at your place as soon as I sign out. And I'll call you before I do. Just to check in and make sure you're okay. Alright?" His voice was steady and reassuring.

Greg nodded, feeling relief seep through him. He wasn't going to have to spend the night alone. Don would stay with him, even if he wouldn't be there for a few hours. He could manage to fill that time. He'd read a book, watch a movie, do something to make himself relax.

He drained his coffee, knowing that Don was waiting for him to be ready to leave. He didn't really want to go back outside, but he could hardly stay here all night, could he? Besides, Don was with him. He was safe. There was nothing to be worried about.

Taking a deep breath, he pushed his chair back and stood up, following Don to the door. His boyfriend would take him home, then come back to be with him thruogh the rest of the night. Greg just hoped that Don would be back at his apartment as soon as he could.

***